This year at the Arvamusfestival (Opinion Festival), in cooperation with the Office of the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner and the Estonian Human Rights Centre, we are organising a discussion on racism titled I’m not a racist, but…, which will focus on real-life stories from Estonia. Come listen and reflect with us on August 8 from 16:00–17:30 at the Security Area on Paide Vallimägi. In addition, the director of the Estonian Refugee Council, Eero Janson, will take part in a foreign policy discussion titled More Crises, Less Money on August 9.A new programme has been launched in Estonia to support Ukrainian refugee youth in language learning and integration. Read more on Estonian Refugee Council’s website. In Ukraine, we have started a new entrepreneurship programme in the Poltava, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, Dnipro, and Kharkiv regions to help local people rebuild their lives and become more self-reliant.In June, we visited the Tavush region in Armenia with experts from the Estonian University of Life Sciences to help local schools adopt environmentally friendly agricultural practices such as hydroponics and composting.In Jordan, ten women completed a training course in June aimed at spreading knowledge of water-efficient farming methods throughout the region.We published our 2024 annual report in June. Last year, our support reached more than 69,000 people. Read more in the Estonian Refugee Council’s annual report.

Täna, rahvusvahelisel pagulaspäeval korraldas Eesti Pagulasabi Tallinnas, Tondiraba pargis tegevusterohke noorteürituse, et avaldada toetust neile, kes on pidanud oma kodud jätma ja aidata märgata pagulastaustaga inimesi meie ümber. 

On 20 June, we’re hosting a youth-focused event in Tondiraba Park to mark World Refugee Day – a celebration of courage, resilience, and community. Find out more on our website or join via Facebook.Our mental health hotline was relaunched to support Ukrainians in Ukraine, Estonia, and beyond, helping people cope with the psychological toll of the war.A new programme has been launched to support Ukrainian refugee youth in Estonia with language learning and integration.A new programme is starting in Estonia to strengthen the capacity of local governments in matters related to migration and integration.In Armenia, last week experts from the Estonian University of Life Sciences visited Tavush to provide local schools with practical training in hydroponics and composting.In Georgia, we continue to support Ukrainian refugees with cash-based assistance to help them meet daily needs and build resilience.In Jordan, women-led community organisations completed the first stage of hydroponics training.New global Complaints and Feedback Mechanism launched by the Estonian Refugee Council allows beneficiaries, partners, and staff to submit questions, complaints, or feedback safely and confidentially.

In cooperation with the Ukrainian National Psychological Association, the Estonian Refugee Council has relaunched its helpline, which provides mental health support to Ukrainians living in Ukraine or displaced across Europe due to the war. With funding from ESTDEV, support is now available in a total of 21 European countries.

The Shevchenkove community is one of the hardest-hit areas in Mykolaiv region of Ukraine. In 2022, it was on the frontline—eight of its settlements were occupied, and the others came under constant attack.

On 5 July 2024, a guided bomb struck Komar village in Donetska oblast, shattering Ivan’s world. His only daughter, Halyna, just 32, was killed in the attack while working at the village council—one of the targets that tragic day.

As a humanitarian organisation, we are committed to the highest ethical standards, transparency, and accountability. To make it easier and more convenient to share your experiences with us, we have launched a new Complaints and Feedback Mechanism.